Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-24
Prison Life in Siberia.

Prison life in Siberia is Of many vari-
ties. according to The offences OF differ
ent individuals and the sentences
which have been decreed in their cases
The lowest sentence IS to simple ban
lshment for three years. and the hard
est to hard labor for life. The simple
exile without Imprisonment is appoint
ed to live in certain town, district or
province. and must report to the police
at stated intervals He may engage in
certain specified occupations. or rather
in any occupation which is not on o
prohibited list; for example, he may
te ach music or painting, but may not
teach languages, as they afford the
opportunity for propagating revolution.
airy ideas. He may become merchant
farmer. mechanic, contractor, or any
thing else Of that sort, and it not infre-
quently happens that exiles enjoy q
degree OF prosperity in their new homes
that they did not have in European
Russia Exiles and their sons have
become millionaires in Siberia: form
err Vanderbilt of Likoutsk, the capital
OF eastern Siberia. was the son Of an
exile serf, his enormous fortune hayin Q
been gained in the overland tea trade
Many exiles become so attached to ST.
IBERIA that they remain there after their
term OF Punishment is ended, but it
should be understood that their cases
are the exception rather than the rule.
The wife and immature children of an
exile may follow or accompany him at
the expense of the government, but
cannot return to Europe until his term
of service has expired The object of
exile is to furnish a population to this
sparsely inhabitated region. and 1t goes
without saying that family man is
much more likely to be good citizen
when his wife and children are with
him than when they are thousands of
miles away. The name of .sprisoner''
or exile" is never applied to the ban
ished individuals; in the language of
the people they are called ssunfortu-
mates, " and in official documents they
are termed involuntary emigrants. z
| OF those sentenced to forced labor.
some are ordered to become colonists;
| they are furnished with the tools and
materials for building house on q
| plot of ground allotted to them, and for
| three years can receive rations from
| the nearest government station; but
| when the three years. have expired they
are expected to support themselves.
| If they were sent to the southern and
( western fertile spots of Siberia, their
! lot would not be severe one, but the
! most of these colonists are assigned to
the northern regions, where the sup
! port of life from tilling the soil or
/ from hunting and fishing is matter Of
! great difficulty. Those who are kept
! in prison and sentenced to hard labor
I are employed in mines. mills, foundries
or on the public roads; many of them
wear chains which extend from a
girdle around the waist to each ankle,
and effectually preclude the possibility
/ of running away. Their life is .
| hard one, as their food is coarse and
often limited in quantity; it is bac
| enough under kind-hearted overseer.
and superintendent, and terrible
where the masters are cruel, which
happens altogether too often. In the
| time of the first Alexander and the
Emperor Nicholas the treatment of tbs
| prisoners in Siberia was more sever,
than at present but even to-day there
is great opportunity for amelioration